The World's First Droneport (Yes, a Drone Airport) Opens in Nevada

The FAA has announced that all drones will have to be registered by December 21, so get yours to the new Nevada droneport while there's time.

Drones are no longer a technology of the future. They’re taking photos, touring countries, and sometimes getting a little too close to airplanes for anyone’s comfort. With the FAA announcing this morning that drone owners will have to register any drone between .5 and 55 pounds starting December 21, it's becoming clear that the flying contraptions are here to stay. But now, drone owners (and racers, because drone racing apparently exists) will have a home of their own: the world’s first "droneport." Just southeast of Las Vegas, the Aerodrome will welcome enthusiasts and commercial drone operators alike, while allowing them to land safely in an approved zone. Drones have come under more scrutiny from the FAA recently, after nearly 100 close-calls with commercial aircraft. Technically, drones are not allowed within five miles of an airport, without explicit permission, or higher than 400 feet in the air.

The new Nevada droneport, which is already operational, according to Fast Company, will allow the nearly 2,500 American companies licensed to fly drones and the various other recreational drone flyers to learn more about the dos and don’ts of operating a drone. Exclusively meant for aircraft that weighs less than 1,320 pounds, the Aerodrome is one of only six spots approved by the FAA for flying drones. Another droneport may soon compete with Nevada’s drone base, as a medical supply launch pad is planned for Rwanda, to deliver needed goods to rural areas. Developers are making smart moves, too, since the global drone market is poised to be worth over $2 billion by 2022. Maybe we’ll ask for a drone this holiday after all, with a ticket to Las Vegas in our stockings.